Thanks for joining the conversation for 200 episodes of Irenicast!  In this episode the hosts answer your questions.  The topics range from the bible, hell, marriage and more.  After 7 years and 200 episodes the Irenicast team is still so thankful to helping provoke the progressive Christian imagination.  Here’s to 200 more!   Thanks for Joining the Conversation Comments & Questions: #1 (01:58) - New Zealand Listener Audio Question#2 (08:29) - New Zealand Listener #2, Email#3 (13:24) - Recent Apple Podcast Review#4 (14:25) - Audio Question #2#5 (25:04) - Listener E ..read more

Thanks for joining the conversation for 200 episodes of Irenicast!  In this episode the hosts answer your questions.  The topics range from the bible, hell, marriage and more.  After 7 years and 200 episodes the Irenicast team is still so thankful to helping provoke the progressive Christian imagination.  Here’s to 200 more!   Thanks for Joining the Conversation Comments & Questions: #1 (01:58) - New Zealand Listener Audio Question#2 (08:29) - New Zealand Listener #2, Email#3 (13:24) - Recent Apple Podcast Review#4 (14:25) - Audio Question #2#5 (25:04) - Listener E ..read more

One thing that tends to get left out of many conversations on deconstruction is atheism and agnosticism.  Why is this?  Even when it is brought up, it is rarely spoken of as an ending point.  Why is that?  Can our deconstruction lead us to atheism and agnosticism?  Is that ‘okay’?  Spoilers, we think it is. In this episode the Irenicast hosts discuss the important space atheism and agnosticism hold for so many on their journeys.  Perhaps what we believe is less important than how we hold those beliefs.  Fundamentalism can rear its ugly head in any ideolo ..read more

War and Christianity are certainly not strangers.  In fact, they seem pretty friendly many of the times.  In this episode Bonnie, Rajeev and Jeff discuss the complicated history of war and Christianity.  A discussion that seems especially timely considering the current invasion of Ukraine. The conversation starts by acknowledging the ample examples of divine mandated war in our religious text.  To which, the wide path of Biblical interpretations has come up with many theological ‘theories’ on war and peace.  Bonnie specifically lays out a great overview of the history ..read more

In this episode on queer legacy, Casey shares a recent revelation from a queer history class he has been taking.  He shares the history of the term two-spirit.  A term used by some to describe Indigenous North American people who fulfilled a traditional third-gender ceremonial and social role in their cultures.  As someone who is both queer and has Indigenous ancestry Casey expressed his deep sense of validation in his pastoral calling. Casey also takes this revelation and challenges us to take a new look at calling and purpose.  This shifts the conversation into challengin ..read more

How do Eschatology and Process Theology fit together?  This week we try and answer that question by sitting down with Dr. Thomas Jay Oord.  Dr. Oord is an expert on Process Theology, also known as Open and Relational Theology. Many days it feels as though the end of the world is upon us.  This is even true for people across the proverbial aisle.  Although for much different reasons.  In this conversation we explore endings through a Process Theology lens. Will things get better?  Will there be an ultimate ending?  What is God’s role, or lack thereof, in endin ..read more

The problem with patriarchal Christianity may seem obvious to many listeners of Irenicast.  It is no surprise to us that patriarchy has done perhaps irrevocable damage to not just Christianity, but the nation as well.  We are seeing the ripples of that sad truth on every level in society. In this episode, three beneficiaries of the the f**ked up system we’ve come to know and loathe discuss ways we can lay aside our privilege to make room for others to lead.  It is not an easy task, and sometimes it seems like it is too little too late.  However, as Rajeev points out, there ..read more

In this episode Bonnie sits down and has a compelling conversation with Carolyn Baker PhD mostly about her newest book, Confronting Christofascism: Healing the Evangelical Wound.  It is no secret that since 2016 the United States has felt as though it is on its last legs as a democracy.  Carolyn shares with us many of her perspectives on why that is the case from her book. This conversation includes many of the things we are not supposed to talk about at the dinner table: religion and politics.  Specifically the marrying of fascism and a large portion of American Christianity.&n ..read more

The generational divide in our country feels massive.  With the rise of Gen Z and the sentiment of ‘Okay Boomer’, it doesn't feel as though one generation values the other.  If anything, younger generations especially are scapegoated for the direction our culture is taking.  In this episode we welcome Selah Cluff and as a member of GenZ to discuss this divide and explore how we might cross it. One of the first places this discussion goes is how each generation views the future and what cultural events define the generations represented. It is a wide road of experiences and event ..read more

In Episode 192 Rebirthing Christmas - Virgin Mary Smashes the Patriarchy, Bonnie, Casey, Jeff, and Rajeev, discuss a broad range of feminist perspectives on Mary the mother of Jesus and virginity. Did ancient communities understand the concept of virginity through the lens of purity culture or did they hold a more sophisticated understanding of feminine power? We leaned towards the latter.  The Magnificat by Mary in the Gospel of Luke is discussed with great interest and reverence. It is a most powerful passage that is often omitted from most liturgies.  The conversation explores the ..read more